In a survey of over 1,700 well owners, 67% believed their well water was safe without any evidence to support it. You can protect your health (and your family’s) by getting your well water tested. The Private Well Class, in conjunction with 2024 National Groundwater Awareness Week, held March 10-16, 2024, is excited to announce the 9th annual Pledge […]
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Well Water Wise (3W) Week | May 1-5, 2023


The Anoka County Public Health and Environmental Services (PHES) Department, in cooperation with 15 municipalities and county agencies, is sponsoring the 21st annual Well Water Wise (3W) week promotion May 1-5, 2023 to encourage residents to check the safety of their private well water. For information on private well testing go to the Anoka County […]
Blaine Well Pumping May Impact Ham Lake Private Wells


New Situation The City of Blaine finished their fourth water treatment plant at the end of 2021. They have four new wells providing water to this plant. This is the first summer that it is fully operational. As anticipated in the Blaine Well Interference Plan, the heavy pumping during this summer’s drought is causing nearby […]
New Grant Opportunity


The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has a new grant opportunity that will be available on September 1, 2022 to all community and nontransient noncommunity public water supply systems who have a Source Water Protection Plan. Source water protection plans are either, 1) wellhead protection plans that have been approved by MDH under requirements of Minnesota […]
Fall/Winter 2022 Well Water Testing


The Anoka County Public Health and Environmental Services Department helps Anoka County residents protect their drinking water. One way to assure safe, quality drinking water is by having it tested. It is recommended to test for bacteria and nitrate on an annual basis. Anoka County Environmental Services has expanded the well water testing program’s capacity […]

Check out “Liquid Assets Minnesota”


If you have a chance, take some time to watch TPT’s Liquid Assets Minnesota. http://www.tpt.org/?a=programs&id=21634 This program explores concerns about Minnesota’s aging water infrastructure. Many drinking water systems, sanitary sewers and storm sewers throughout the state are rapidly approaching the end of their useful life, so communities of all sizes are trying to come up with […]

What is Wellhead Protection?


What is a wellhead protection area? A wellhead protection area is a protection zone around a public water supply well to keep pollutants from rapidly reaching the community’s water supply. The area is established using easily identifiable landmarks as boundaries (e.g. streets, property lines, ditches). The wellhead protection area is based on the minimum time […]